Rose oil prices in Bulgaria could reach 5000 euro per kg, according to predictions of producers.

The current price varies between 4500 to 4700 euro per kg but it may increase if the global market faces shortage of rose oil, investor.bg reported.

Bulgaria is the only European Union country which produces large quantities of world-quality rose oil, representative of rose oil company Natural Aromatic Ivan Dimitrov said.

Despite floods and the drought in 2007, rose oil produced in Bulgaria equaled the quantity produced in the previous years. This resulted from rose terrains enlargement and the establishment of new ones, experts said.

France, Germany and US feature among main rose oil consumers that traditionally buy the world's entire rose oil production.

Besides Bulgaria, Turkey, Tunisia and France produce rose oil but in small quantities.

Turkey is Bulgaria's main rival in the sector.

The number of companies producing rose oil and rose water in Bulgaria reached 15 and the competition between them steadily increases. Despite their increasing number the quantity of rose oil sold abroad will hardly increase, experts said.